Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

BBC News

• London 2012: TfL warning on Olympics traffic jams‎ [video]Transport for London has warned traffic jams could be widespread during the Olympics, as it announced its plans to keep London moving during the Games.
• New Jersey bus firm 'should honour Connex pay rise' Jersey's bus workers have said they hope their new pay deal will continue if Connex loses its contract.
• UK to make BMW sportscar engineBMW says it will produce the engine for its i8 petrol-electric supercar at its Hams Hall factory near Birmingham.
• City tram extension work beginsWork begins on a multi-million pound tram extension in the city centre of Birmingham.
• Bombardier boosted by huge orderBombardier Aerospace announces the biggest business aircraft sale in the company's history which, it says, will sustain existing jobs at its Belfast base.
• Euro woes hit airline's ambitionsThe Eurozone's economic woes leads to a fall in passengers flying between London's Heathrow Airport and countries such as Greece, says BAA.
• Passenger numbers increase in MayAberdeen Airport saw passenger numbers rise nearly 16% in May, with Glasgow and Edinburgh also recording increases.
• VIDEO: UK's first fast-charge electric busBritain's first fast-charging electric bus is being launched.
• Games bonus for Heathrow ExpressStaff working on Heathrow Express during the Olympics will receive a bonus of £700, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union says.
• Qantas rises on bid defence moveQantas shares surge after reports the Australian airline has appointed the Macquarie Group to help defend against any takeover bids.
• Euro woes hit airline's ambitionsThe owner of British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG), says the economic woes in the eurozone have hit its expansion plans.

Financial Times

• Chinese airlines refuse EU data requestCarriers will refuse to submit carbon emissions data to the EU by this week™s deadline, according to the China Air Transport Association
• Mallya battles to keep Kingfisher flyingIndia™s ˜King of Good Times™ sees troubles begin to spread from lossmaking airline to other segments of his multibillion dollar empire
• Qantas: on the defensiveA takeover is not the airline™s real fear. The real danger to the current management is aggressive stakebuilding by an activist investor
• Qantas raises defences against takeoversAustralian carrier appoints Macquarie to protect it from potential hostile bids, as drop in share price after profit warning leaves it vulnerable

The Herald

• Union claims shorter rail franchise plan will go aheadMINISTERS will defy advice from business groups, rail industry bodies and MSPs by pressing ahead with plans for a shorter ScotRail franchise, despite warnings this would make investment in new trains less likely, a leading union figure said.
• Passenger numbers surge at Glasgow AirportPASSENGER numbers at Glasgow Airport surged by nearly 10% last month as airlines added routes while Edinburgh continued to struggle with cuts made by Ryanair, new figures show.

The Independent

• Eurozone fears reduce flights from UK The lure of souvlaki, sardines and spaghetti hasn't been enough to outweigh headlines about the eurozone crisis: fewer Britons are flying to Greece, Portugal and Italy this year.

The Scotsman

• Rail sleeper service between Scotland and London to be split off claims unionA NEW company could be brought in to run sleeper services between Scotland and London under plans for a radical shake-up of the rail franchise.

The Telegraph

• Minister wrong to blame Heathrow delays on unexpected passenger numbers A minister was wrong to blame long queues he saw at Heathrow passport controls on unexpectedly large passenger numbers, new figures show. In a fresh embarrassment for the Home Office and the airport, it has emerged that officials “confused” data and there were actually fewer people than predicted coming into arrivals.
• Air fares may rise on trade war over EU emissions levy Passengers face the threat of paying more for air travel if a trade war erupts over EU plans to impose a carbon levy on all airlines.

Daily Express

• Bombardier boosted by £6.2bn jets orderA RECORD order worth up to £6.2billion from a firm owned by US billionaire Warren Buffett will secure thousands of UK jobs, aircraft giant Bombardier said yesterday.

Daily Record

• Scotland's airports enjoy high flying start to busy holiday period as passenger figures risePASSENGER numbers at three airports rose last month, according to new figures.

ATOC

• Millions of rail passengers to benefit from improvements at Southampton station Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening is to officially unveil major improvements made at Southampton Central,...

Network Rail

• APOLOGY TO RAIL PASSENGERS IN THE ESK VALLEY

Belfast Telegraph

• Transport scheme takes us where we need to go The Roads Service plan to drive cars out of Belfast city centre is a bold and necessary initiative, says Steven Patterson

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds Bradford Airport proposing free drop-off area Bosses at Leeds Bradford Airport could find out tomorrow if they can continue with redevelopment plans, despite rejecting calls for changes to the forecourt.
• New station plans move step closer Transport chiefs will be asked to release nearly £2.5 million for detailed design and development work for a new train station in the Bradford district, which could be completed in the next two years.

Edinburgh Evening News

• City refuses to foot £1m bill for Waverley terror taxi banTHE bid to ban taxis and private cars from Waverley Station is in fresh chaos after the city council said it would refuse to pay the £1 million cost of the move.

Liverpool Echo

• Bidston to Wrexham rail line should be electrified, says Wirral MP Alison McGovernA PLEA for cash to finally electrify a key Wirral rail line was being made to ministers today by Wirral MP Alison McGovern.

Liverpool Post

• Merseytram compulsory purchase orders must be lifted, says Lord StoreyLORD Storey is leading calls for Merseytram compulsory purchase orders to be lifted in Liverpool.
• Alison McGovern calls for Wirral railway line electrificationWIRRAL South MP Alison McGovern will make a plea for cash to finally electrify the key Bidston to Wrexham railway line to ministers today.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink line to Oldham opens tomorrow (but you can take a virtual journey along the new track right now) Passengers are set to board the first tram on the long-awaited Metrolink line to Oldham tomorrow after final tests proved a success but you can take a virtual journey on the new line right now with our exclusive video.

Sheffield Star

• Free bus travel to Race for Life this weekendWomen taking part in Race for Life in Rotherham can get there for free with a special offer on the buses.
• BREAKING: Doncaster airport link road granted planning permission - VIDEOCOUNCILLORS have backed planning permission for the proposed Robin Hood Airport link road.

Wales Online

• Bridge tolls should be used to invest in Welsh rail and roadsThe Severn Crossing toll should be used to raise funds to develop infrastructure in Wales and not as a substitute for Welsh Government cash, a leading campaigner said yesterday.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds Inner Ring Road: Disruption ahead for drivers on vital routeMotorists in Leeds are facing a summer of discontent as the latest phase of a £25m bridge repair programme gets under way.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Row over axe of Lancashire’s bus timetables ELDERLY passengers are being left in the lurch by a decision to axe timetable information from three-quarters of Lancashire’s bus stops, it has been claimed.

Other Regional Press

• Bus users benefit from new technology BUS passengers in Berwick are benefiting from new technology and an improved shelter in the town centre.

Campaign for Better Transport

• We've helped win 30 more green transport projects24 May 2012: Today the Government has announced 30 more projects to be funded by the £560 million Local read more

Global Rail News

• Jubilee Joy at Railfest 2012The National Railway Museum™s Railfest extravaganza formed a fitting railway bonus to the spectacular celebrations of Her Majesty™s Diamond Jubilee. An East Coast locomotive, 91110, was named ˜Battle of Britain Memorial Flight™ by TV star Carol Vorderman at the start of the nine-day celebration of Britain™s railways at the National Railway Museum in York. A [...]
• Summer statue on tourEast Coast has put up a statue of Olympic athlete, Jonathan Edwards, at King™s Cross. The life-sized sculpture was made entirely from used train parts by sculptor Ptolemy Elrington. Says Jonathan Edwards, ˜The sculpture is very striking and really took me aback when I first saw it. It™s incredible to think it was possible to [...]
• Dalmarnock design win for AtkinsDalmarnock Station in Glasgow has been named Best Proposed Project at the Scottish Design Awards in Glasgow. A top team from Atkins has designed a radical upgrade of Dalmarnock Station, the primary transport hub for Glasgow™s Commonwealth Games in 2014. The station will be completely remodelled, with a replacement footbridge, platform upgrades, new ticket office [...]

Transport for London

• Green light for London to charge utility companies who dig at the busiest times and cause congestion Transport for London introduces targeted and avoidable charge for digging up Capital's most congested areas.

Aviation Industry

• Air travel to eurozone crisis countries fallsBAA sees declines in passenger numbers from the UK to Greece, Spain and Portugal
• Heathrow opens temporary Olympics terminalFacility will handle 10,000 passengers in the days after the closing ceremony

Other News Sources

• British expert named as rail regulator BRITISH rail safety expert Rob Andrews will be Australia's inaugural national rail safety regulator.
• Lane rental scheme to clamp down on roadworks disuptionThe country’s first-ever lane rental scheme charging utility firms for working on heavily congested roads has gone live in London this week.
• Transport for London efficiency programme running ahead of scheduleTransport for London (TfL) has revealed that its £7.6bn efficiency programme is running ahead of schedule with £1.8bn already saved, £433M ahead of target.
• SOLAR IMPULSE CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY IN THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCOAfter having accomplished the first intercontinental flight powered by solar energy, the solar airplane of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg continues its voyage. Under High Patronage of his ...
• Irish air traffic figures continue to suffer from Eurozone crisisTotal flights in Irish airspace for May 2012 have decreased by 0.7%, when compared to May 2011 and by 15% when compared to the same month in the peak traffic year of 2008. This reduction is...
• « New 2012 Airline Holistic Safety Rating» by Air Transport Rating AgencyThe independent Swiss rating agency